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It’s time for another helping of Website Whispers . . . a number of topics are covered today, including the loss of a talented cornerback . . .
Rex Ryan knows how to create headlines, even during down time in the NFL news cycle.
Last week at a Knicks game, he was asked by reporter Jill Martin for his thoughts on the 2011 Jets.
“Last year, I thought we’d win it,” Ryan said. “This year I know we’ll win it.”
Even on the Rex bold statement scale, this statement was ridiculous.
There is nothing wrong with thinking positive, but for Rex to say his team is going to win the Super Bowl next year, with 17 free agents (16 if you consider the David Harris franchise tag), is crazy talk.
He doesn’t even know what 30 percent of his roster is going to look like.
Rex is like a pro wrestling manager, making bold statements, even if they lack merit.
I have often compared him to legendary wrestling manager Bobby Heenan (pictured above), but according to NFL/wrestling columnist Alex Marvez of Fox, there is a better comparison.
“I look at Rex more as a Captain Lou Albano, but even more braggadocios,” Marvez said. “Heenan was mean to people (i.e. calling people Humanoids). I don’t see Rex in that light.”
Look-it, the Jets have the potential to be a great team next year, but a lot of it depends on what happens with their myriad free agents.
So for Rex to make such a bold prediction is a little bizarre. It’s like a producer saying he has a great cast for his upcoming movie, and he hasn’t even filled a lot of the major roles yet . . .
Quietly, right after the Super Bowl, the Jets lost cornerback Isaiah Trufant to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets put him on waivers, a couple of days before the AFC Championship Game. In a kind of strange move, they decided to promote nose tackle Martin Teveseau from the practice squad to the regular roster, and waived Trufan to make room for him.
I understand the Jets thought they needed another run stuffer on the defensive line facing Rashad Mendenhall and the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially with a few defensive linemen banged up. However, the concept of a rookie, making his NFL regular season debut in the AFC Championship Game, probably wasn’t a good idea. This guy had zero NFL game experience.
We all know how well the Steelers ran the ball that evening, and Teveseau was a non-factor.
I think “MTV” can play. He had a terrific camp essentially playing with one hand, after suffering a broken hand early in camp.
But to risk putting a talented nickel back through waivers, to promote Teveseau, probably wasn’t a great move.
The cornerback-needy Eagles claimed the UFL MVP.
While Trufant lacks ideal size, he has outstanding speed, quickness and cover skills, and is very tough for his size.
This move could turn out to be Woodhead-like . . .
Not a great mood in the Jets complex right now. With a pending lockout, there are going to be rolling furloughs, and everybody knows it. Jets upper management is attempting to figure out a plan. It could be something like two weeks on, one week off, or something along those lines.
Aside from players, a lockout will impact a lot of lives . . .
While we aren’t sure of what the NFL CBA will look like when it’s completed, I was wondering what the status might be of backup safety/special teams standout James Ihedigbo.
According to a Jets source, while they can’t say for sure, they think he will be a restricted free agent.
So they should be able to keep him.